According to Zane Benefits’ website, starting in 2014 as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), health insurance coverage for individuals and small businesses will become available through new state health insurance exchanges. Most importantly, the key tax credits (e.g. the small business healthcare tax credits) and tax subsidies (e.g. individual health insurance tax subsidies) will only be available for coverage purchased via a state health insurance exchanges.

According to Zane Benefits’ website, all states have three options for setting up a state health insurance exchange for 2014:

1. Build a State-Based Exchange

2. Enter into a State-Federal Partnership Exchange

3. Default to a Federally-Facilitated Exchange

Ohio will default to a federally-facilitated health insurance exchange.

History of Ohio Health Insurance Exchange

According to Zane Benefits’ website, on November 16, 2012, Governor John Kasich notified federal officials that Ohio would default to a federally-facilitated exchange; however, the state would maintain regulatory control over its insurance industry and Medicaid eligibility determinations.

Ohio Health Insurance Exchange for Consumers and Small Businesses

According to Zane Benefits’ website, the Ohio Health Insurance Exchange will be operated through a federally-run health insurance exchange, called the Health Insurance Marketplace. According to healthcare.gov, starting in October 2013 Ohio residents will be able to access information about all the plans available through the Marketplace. The SHOP Exchange will also be available to small businesses. Coverage from the Marketplace starts in January 2014.

According to Zane Benefits’ website and an estimate by healthcare.gov, 1,354,900 or 14% of Ohio’s non-elderly residents are uninsured, of whom 1,268,800 (94%) may qualify for either tax credits to purchase coverage in the Marketplace or for Medicaid if Ohio participates in the Medicaid expansion.